Make Up or Break Up, page 14
‘Oh, yeah, I know … It’s just that I don’t feel the same. Even though she’s a great girl and everything. I told her that and she took it pretty well. I think she understood where I was coming from.’ He flattened his hair nervously with his hand. ‘I just didn’t think it was a good idea to spend the day in a dark room together. Know what I mean?’
‘I know what you mean,’ I said, my heart leaping. I was so relieved that he’d already sorted things out with Margaret.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his phone. ‘What are you doing after the I, Claudius marathon?’ he asked, looking down at the screen of his phone.
I kept my voice light. ‘Mum’s picking me up. I guess it’ll be pretty late by then.’
James nodded. Then he took a deep breath and, still looking at his phone, said, ‘Can I call you sometime?’
I broke into a massive smile. ‘Of course!’
He looked up at me, finally, and smiled back.
Still grinning, I gave him my number.
‘I’m kind of relieved,’ he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. ‘I mean, you didn’t sit next to me in class yesterday –’
‘I was too nervous!’ I admitted.
‘I thought you were mad at me for scaring you in the library …’
‘Not at all! That was funny, actually.’
For a moment our eyes locked. He leaned towards me and I knew he was going to kiss me.
My heart started thumping. I had an unwelcome flashback to my terrible first kiss with Tony, but I shook it off. Nothing was going to stop me from enjoying this: not the shop assistants gawping from the counter, not the idea of my mother stealing sneaky glances through the shopfront window – and certainly not the thought of Tony Rickson. He was so last year.
James reached out and cupped the back of my head with his hand.
I closed my eyes. My skin broke out in shivers.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. It was quick, but mind-blowing.
When I opened my eyes again, he was bending over to pick up the bags of bread.
‘Bye, Ally,’ he said as he pushed through the shop door.
I couldn’t believe how things had worked out. My heart and brain were both racing. James liked me! James had kissed me. Margaret knew that nothing could happen with James. I did feel a bit sad for her, but she was so gutsy and cool that I was sure she’d be okay. I hoped we’d still be able to be friends … Slowly, I came back to earth. That was when I realised I was still standing in the middle of the cake shop.
One of the shop assistants, who was still hovering behind the counter, said, ‘Just as well he left when he did.’ She tittered. ‘I thought I was going to have to put out a fire!’
I was so embarrassed, I grabbed the box of lemon slice and ran for the door.
‘Whoa, slow down there!’ brayed Mum as I rushed straight past her on the street. I spun around to a stop, feeling slightly dizzy.
‘Are you okay, Ally?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine,’ I said, feeling light as a feather.
‘Well, you’re certainly keen to get to your friend’s place,’ Mum said with a laugh.
I grinned, blushing slightly. ‘I want to make a good impression.’
‘Well, darling, I’m glad you’ve met some new people. It’s all very well to have a special friend like Cat, but you do need other friends too. Taking that Latin extension class was a great idea.’
I shrugged as I stood at the car door. ‘Cat and I aren’t as close as we used to be,’ I confessed.
‘Maybe that’s not such a bad thing,’ Mum said, opening her door. ‘You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to friendship.’ She ducked into the driver’s seat and I got in the other side of the car, wondering if Mum was right.
Before Mum started the car engine, she turned in her seat and looked at me. ‘And that boy, James – what a lovely young man. It’s not often you meet a boy that age with such good manners.’
I looked away, pretending to fiddle with my seatbelt. James’s name made my cheeks hot. Then I thought about the way Tony had been treating me since our kiss, and how different things were with James. ‘No, it’s not,’ I agreed, finally. ‘Good manners are important,’ I said, grinning at Mum.
Make Up or Break Up
published in 2014 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
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eISBN 9781743582466
Text copyright © Kate Welshman
Illustration and design copyright © Hardie Grant Egmont
Illustration and design by Steph Spartels
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Kate Welshman, Make Up or Break Up
